Celebrities and pros to turn out for Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach & Golf Club

Gary Player at the launch of the Gary Player Invitational at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club on October 5, 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Warren Little / Getty Images

ABU DHABI // The Gary Player Invitational tournament will be held at the Saadiyat Beach & Golf Club next year, it was announced on Monday.

The South African golf legend joined Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, to launch the charity series, which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Black Knight International after the ministry agreed a five-year deal with Player’s business company to promote the event.

“With so much unrest happening around the world these types of initiatives act as a bridge to get people together, and inspire us and the future generation,” said Sheikh Nahyan during the launch ceremony at the ministry auditorium.

While no names have been confirmed to take part and the beneficiary charities are yet to be finalised, Player, 79, known as the “Black Knight” during a playing career that saw him win nine of golf’s majors, said he expects a mixture of leading players and celebrities to take part in the February 8 event.

“We are still discussing with the ministry what that charity will be,” he said. “Even the line-up has yet to be finalised but we will bring in celebrities, pros and ladies pros.”

The Gary Player Invitation has so far raised over US$60 million (Dh220.3m) from charity events in China, the United States and the UK, but Player says the objective is to raise $100m for charity.

Speaking on the five-year deal with ADSC, Player said it would make the Invitational tournament “bigger and bigger” and that it “is such a thrill to see what it can do to poor people and change their lives”.

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